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3 Tips for Matching Mismatched Décor and Furniture

by Lori Madden 03/19/2023

If you’ve moved a lot, regardless of homeowner status, there’s a good chance you have a few mismatched pieces that have followed you from place to place. The biggest hurdle most residents seem to run into is how to match the pieces with their current furniture or vice versa. Here are a few ways to merge your mismatched furniture and decor for a custom, boho-chic home style.

Colors

Color is often the first thing people notice when they feel something is aesthetically off. Usually there’s a strange balance of complementary colors or a harsh battle of contrasting colors. Either one will set a spectator off when entering a room. So what do you do when all you have are strange combinations of both clashing and overly flattering pieces? Accessorize with contrast.

If you have too many blues for your yellow room, try finding your favorite blue piece or two to help break up the block of yellow but still allow the yellow to shine through. Too many shades of purple? If you have one bland piece of decor or furniture, incorporate it into your purple room. The contrast is minimal enough not to overtake the room but also different enough to act as a centerpiece, distracting occupants from the excessive purple within the room.

Shapes

Sometimes, we have that weird piece of furniture that’s shaped like an oblong. We have no idea where to put it, but we love the piece. What do you do? Either use it as another focal point, or use it as funky inspiration.

In a room dominated by lines, a strangely shaped piece of decor or furniture could increase intrigue when occupying the room. If the furniture in the room is less dynamic, but the odd piece sticks out oddly, add to it. Get more dynamic pieces for the room. Do you have a blob-shaped chair? Get a diamond shaped ottoman to make it a fun addition to the room. Is your couch shaped like a shoe insole? Surround it with other soft shapes to help give the room more flow and less rigidity.

Finishes

Finishes range from matte to glossy, textured to smooth and everything in between. The best way to marry textures is to make sure there is a balance of conflicting finishes. If you have a room with a particularly glossy couch, try using a matte-top table or pull your less-sleek items into the room. This will create another contrast between the textures and reflective surfaces in the room, which could be tantamount if you have a lot of light filtering in.

About the Author
Author

Lori Madden

As a Florida native growing up in Sarasota, I have seen my hometown grow from a sleepy coastal town to a highly sought-after destination along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. After working in Chicago for 5 years, I returned to Sarasota and saw it through a new lens and really began to appreciate what makes Sarasota so desirable, including temperatures that allow for year round outdoor activities including tennis (a personal favorite), golf, boating, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, or just relaxing and/or shelling on our pristine sandy shores, including Dr. Beach’s #1 beach in the United States for 2017, Siesta Key! Sarasota’s cultural amenities are many and diverse, appealing to a wide range of arts lovers. Downtown Sarasota has become a destination in itself, drawing many new developments for those who want to be within walking distance of Main Street's offerings and the picturesque bayfront and marina. Foodies will find an eclectic mix of locally owned and operated restaurants offering something for everyone, and there are now Farmers Markets every day of the week in various locations throughout Sarasota, but the Saturday morning Farmers Market in downtown Sarasota draws the biggest crowds. Since 1988, my passion has been selling real estate, representing both buyers and sellers. I have been recognized by my clients and customers for an uncompromising work ethic and dedication to helping them achieve their real estate goals. Relying on my experience as a real estate paralegal and being highly organized, I am able to help make the transition between contract and closing a smooth one for my clients. With an eye for interior and landscape design, I've been known to pitch in and help Sellers minimize and/or reorganize their belongings in order to stage their home to maximize its sale potential. I specialize in out of state buyers looking for their piece of paradise along the Gulf Coast and make it a priority to keep them up to date on our quickly changing local real estate market. I welcome the opportunity to share with you all Sarasota and her surrounding islands have to offer!